OS 10.4 - Can't open Macintosh HD folder after update

I just installed recent updates for Quicktime, iTunes, OS, and maybe one other application, and now I can no longer open the Macintosh HD window. When I double click it, it opens for a split second and then closes again. Same thing when I go to "Go to folder'. The Applications window works just fine through "Go to folder", so it seems specific to the Macintosh HD folder.

Try rebooting the machine and see if things return to normal. If they don't, it could very well be that the update didn't go well. In that case, try downloading the latest combined update for your operating system from Apple and install it.

Try rebooting the machine and see if things return to normal. If they don't, it could very well be that the update didn't go well. In that case, try downloading the latest combined update for your operating system from Apple and install it.

Regards.

That didn't work - Any other thoughts? I can open any other folder, just not the Macintosh HD folder. I tried renaming it, and that doesn't work either. It opens for a split second, and then closes again. Very inconvenient!

Hi, I posted this problem earlier and got some helpful replies, but nothing worked, so here I am - perhaps someone has been able to solve this issue in the meantime. Basically, after the most recent Apple software update, I cannot open the Macintosh HD folder, either by double clicking it, or through the "Go" command. In those cases, it will flash open and close immediately. Any other folder will open just fine. This is becoming a significant problem as it makes it difficult to organize the drive.

Ok, I tried the "Root User" trick, but that didn't work either. One thing that makes me think that permissions have nothing to do with the problem is that the HD folder does open up, but only for a split second. Then the whole screen flickers, everything seems to disappear for another split second, and then goes back to my normal desktop.

I'm about out of ideas on this one. The only other thing I can suggest is make a backup of your data and reinstall clean. If the same thing happens after a reinstall, it may be related to a hardware problem - as unlikely as that is.

I'll take a stab at this one. It appears that, for some reason, Finder keeps crashing when you try to open the root directory (/) of your Mac in Finder. Let's try to open this from the command line to see if an error is reported. Open up /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app and execute the following command:

Code:

open /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/ /

Do you get any sort of errors or warnings printed to the command line?

I'll take a stab at this one. It appears that, for some reason, Finder keeps crashing when you try to open the root directory (/) of your Mac in Finder. Let's try to open this from the command line to see if an error is reported. Open up /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app and execute the following command:

Code:

open /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/ /

Do you get any sort of errors or warnings printed to the command line?

Same problem on my iMac 3.3GHz purchased April 2010, with Snow Leopard. Just tried your Terminal.app suggestion, vansmith. The result was identical to original problem: Macintosh HD folder opened for a split second, then closed itself. Will try to manually download the latest combined update.